Azerbaijan lifts gambling ban on artificial islands in Caspian Sea

Azerbaijan’s parliament has approved new legislation that will allow casinos to operate on artificial islands in the Caspian Sea, marking the lifting of a decades-long ban on gambling.

The bill was passed Tuesday during an extraordinary session of the Milli Majlis (parliament) in its third and final reading, according to Xinhua. The legislation establishes a legal framework for entrepreneurial activity on man-made islands within Azerbaijan’s sector of the Caspian Sea, including the operation of casinos.

Lawmakers said the move is aimed at attracting foreign investment and stimulating economic growth in the offshore zone. The law builds on a measure adopted on May 7, 2024, which outlined rules for the creation and use of artificial islands in the Caspian.

Despite the change, gambling will remain prohibited throughout mainland Azerbaijan. Casinos will only be permitted on designated artificial islands and must operate under strict national regulations.

Gambling has been banned in Azerbaijan since 1998, with only limited exceptions for state-run lotteries and betting on horse racing.